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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Series

Prison Break

Prison Break is an American crime drama television series created by Paul Scheuring for Fox.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Prison Break is an American crime drama series that aired on Fox from 2005 to 2017. It follows Michael Scofield's plan to help his brother Lincoln Burrows escape death row.

What it is

The series centres on Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows, two brothers whose lives are tied to a prison escape plan. Lincoln is sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and Michael deliberately enters prison to orchestrate his brother's escape.

Key details

Created by Paul Scheuring, Prison Break originally ran for four seasons from 2005 to 2009, then returned for a fifth season in 2017. The show has 90 episodes across five seasons. Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell star as Michael and Lincoln.

Why it matters

Prison Break became a notable title in Fox's crime-drama lineup and spawned additional franchise material, including a follow-up TV film. In Canada, the series aired on Global, making it familiar to North American audiences.

In short

  • Premiered on Fox in 2005 and ended its original run in 2009, with a revival in 2017.
  • Centres on a brother's prison escape plan after a wrongful death sentence.
  • Five seasons with 90 episodes total.
  • Broadcast in Canada on Global.
Canadian angle

Prison Break was broadcast in Canada on Global, making it familiar to Canadian viewers as part of its North American television run.

Quick questions

What is Prison Break about?
It follows Michael Scofield’s plan to help his brother Lincoln Burrows escape prison after Lincoln is sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit.
Who created Prison Break?
Prison Break was created by Paul Scheuring.
How many seasons does Prison Break have?
The series has five seasons, including a revival season that aired in 2017.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_Break
    Supports: Creator, genre, premise, and lead characters
  2. Wikipedia Simple English — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_Break
    Supports: Original run dates, season count, episode count, and premise
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prison_Break_episodes
    Supports: Original run dates, Canadian broadcast on Global, and overall series details
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_Break_season_5
    Supports: 2017 revival season and episode count